CN102026818A - Methods of applying uv-curable inks to retroreflective sheeting - Google Patents
Methods of applying uv-curable inks to retroreflective sheeting Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- CN102026818A CN102026818A CN2009801169230A CN200980116923A CN102026818A CN 102026818 A CN102026818 A CN 102026818A CN 2009801169230 A CN2009801169230 A CN 2009801169230A CN 200980116923 A CN200980116923 A CN 200980116923A CN 102026818 A CN102026818 A CN 102026818A
- Authority
- CN
- China
- Prior art keywords
- ink
- sheet material
- base material
- retrodirective reflection
- radiation
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Pending
Links
Classifications
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
- B41M—PRINTING, DUPLICATING, MARKING, OR COPYING PROCESSES; COLOUR PRINTING
- B41M5/00—Duplicating or marking methods; Sheet materials for use therein
- B41M5/0011—Pre-treatment or treatment during printing of the recording material, e.g. heating, irradiating
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
- B41M—PRINTING, DUPLICATING, MARKING, OR COPYING PROCESSES; COLOUR PRINTING
- B41M7/00—After-treatment of prints, e.g. heating, irradiating, setting of the ink, protection of the printed stock
- B41M7/0081—After-treatment of prints, e.g. heating, irradiating, setting of the ink, protection of the printed stock using electromagnetic radiation or waves, e.g. ultraviolet radiation, electron beams
-
- Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
- Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
- Y10T—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION
- Y10T428/00—Stock material or miscellaneous articles
- Y10T428/24—Structurally defined web or sheet [e.g., overall dimension, etc.]
- Y10T428/24802—Discontinuous or differential coating, impregnation or bond [e.g., artwork, printing, retouched photograph, etc.]
Landscapes
- Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
- Electromagnetism (AREA)
- General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
- Toxicology (AREA)
- Ink Jet Recording Methods And Recording Media Thereof (AREA)
- Inks, Pencil-Leads, Or Crayons (AREA)
- Laminated Bodies (AREA)
- Application Of Or Painting With Fluid Materials (AREA)
- Illuminated Signs And Luminous Advertising (AREA)
Abstract
The present application relates to methods of forming a signage including a radiation curable ink. One exemplary embodiment involves heating at least a portion of a retroreflective article; applying a radiation curable ink to the heated portion of the retroreflective article; and curing the radiation curable ink. In most instances, a heated retroreflective article has a temperature that is greater than room temperature.
Description
Technical field
Present patent application relates to the method that ultraviolet ink is coated to the retrodirective reflection sheet material on the whole.
Background technology
The retrodirective reflection sheet material of two kinds of known types is microballoon base sheet and cube comer sheetings.The microballoon base sheet is also referred to as " pearl " sheet material sometimes, adopt a large amount of microspheres, these microspheres embed in the adhesive phase usually at least in part, and have the reflection of relevant minute surface or diffuse-reflective material (for example granules of pigments, sheet metal, evaporation layer) with the retrodirective reflection incident light.Solid angle retrodirective reflection sheet material comprises a main part, and this main part has the front surface of substantially flat usually and comprises the back patterned surface of a plurality of solid angle elements.Each solid angle element all has three approximate mutually perpendicular optical surfaces, and these three surfaces cooperatively interact with the retrodirective reflection incident light.
Ink jet printing becomes preferred digital print methods shown because of its resolution ratio height, flexible, high speed and economical and practical.During operation, the control pattern that ink-jet printer constitutes intensive ink droplet is ejected into and receives on the base material.By the pattern of selectivity adjustment ink droplet, ink-jet printer can generate multiple print format, comprises (for example) text, figure, bar code etc.
The most frequently used printing ink of ink-jet printer is water-based or solvent type.The base material that water color ink requires to use porous substrate or has the suction specific coatings.On the other hand, solvent type ink comprises about 90% organic solvent usually.Because manufacturer wishes to reduce solvent discharge, therefore do not expect to volatilize in the ink setting process a large amount of solvents.In addition, this dry run can become the rate-limiting step of ink jet printing, causes productivity ratio low.
For fear of the problem relevant, developed the radiation-hardenable ink composite that contains polymerizable composition with water color ink and solvent type ink.Polymerisable composition not only can be used as the solvent that reduces composition viscosity before curing, also can be used as the binding agent in the solidification process, and alternatively as crosslinking agent.Viscosity was low when these compositions were in its uncured state, and was easy to ink-jet.Polymerisable composition is easy to produce reaction when being exposed to suitable radiation source (for example ultraviolet ray or electron beam), form crosslinking polymer network.Because composition is radiation curing fast, so use radiation curing can make printing ink self " dry at once ".
Yet a problem of radiation-hardenable printing ink is that these ink composites can't be attached on all base materials equably.Making these ink composites to the retrodirective reflection base material suitable adhesive force be arranged is a huge challenge.The trial of tackling this challenge comprises carries out modification to ink composite, to optimize its tack on target substrate.
Summary of the invention
For the retrodirective reflection label, all need to improve its performance all the time, reduce its cost and simplify its production procedure.Present patent application has solved at least a portion of above-mentioned needs.
For example, present patent application has been described the method that forms label, and it comprises: at least a portion to the retrodirective reflection sheet material heats; Ultraviolet curing ink is applied at least a portion of the retrodirective reflection sheet material that is heated; And ultraviolet curing ink is solidified.
In addition, present patent application has been described the method that is formed into the picture goods, and it comprises: at least a portion to the retrodirective reflection base material heats; Radiation-hardenable printing ink is applied at least a portion of the retrodirective reflection base material that is heated; And make ink solidification, thereby be formed into the picture goods.
Present patent application has also been described the label that is formed by said method.
The specific embodiment
As used herein, term " label " is meant the free-standing goods that convey a message, and it uses usually and comprises literal and digital character, symbol, figure or other marks.Concrete label example includes, but is not limited to be used for label, road sign and the car plate of traffic control purpose.
As used herein, term " retrodirective reflection " is meant a kind of like this attribute, the object that possesses this attribute can make the reflection direction of oblique incidence light be anti-parallel to or roughly be anti-parallel to its incident direction, thereby makes light turn back to the position of light source or next-door neighbour's light source.Retrodirective reflection sheet material as herein described, film or goods can be pearl or prism-shaped.
Term " ink jet image " and " inkjet printing " all refer to adopt the radiation-hardenable ink composite to carry out ink jet printing to handle resulting image.Image can be text, figure, coding (for example bar code) etc., can constitute by solid color, multiple color, or not obvious in visible spectrum.
Term " radiation-hardenable " is meant a kind of like this functional pendant groups, and this functional pendant groups directly or indirectly links to each other with monomer, oligomer or main polymer chain (depending on the circumstances), and react when being exposed to suitable curing energy source (for example crosslinked).
Term " monomer " is meant the material of molecular weight relatively low (being that molecular weight is lower than about 500 gram/moles).
Term " polymer " " be meant such molecule, it has the substructure that is formed by the one or more monomer components with repeated monomer substructure, oligomeric component and/or poly component, but does not have other radiation polymerization type group.
An exemplary embodiment of present patent application relates to the method that forms label, and described method comprises: at least a portion of heating counter-reflective products; Radiation-hardenable printing ink is applied to the heated portion of counter-reflective products; And curing radiation curing property printing ink.Therefore, radiation-hardenable printing ink is applied at least a portion of the counter-reflective products that is heated.The temperature of the counter-reflective products that in most of the cases, is heated is higher than room temperature.Preferred specified temp will depend on counter-reflective products, apply the desired use of method, curing and the goods of printing ink.In other words, exemplary preferred temperature includes, but is not limited to the temperature greater than 97 ℉ (36 ℃), more preferably greater than the temperature of 110 ℉ (43 ℃).
In an illustrative embodiments, counter-reflective products is for having the sheet material or the film of two first type surfaces (first first type surface and second first type surface).Radiation-hardenable printing ink is applied in two first type surfaces at least a portion of at least one.In some illustrative embodiments, radiation-hardenable printing ink can be applied on first first type surface and second first type surface.Can adopt any method known in the art, comprise that (for example) digital printed or ink jet printing carries out this type of and apply.Exemplary printer comprises (for example) piezoelectric type UV ink jet printing machine, and the pattern of this printing machine or model comprise flat push type, volume to volume formula or transfer formula.Use ink-jet printer and/or the digital printed label of making to reduce manufacturing cost, can (for example) reduce owing to this two classes technology and make the required total amount of labour of label (label that particularly has complicated image or customized image), substitute serigraphy expensive and consuming time, shorten the manufacturing cycle, improve short-term production capacity, reduce the stock and boost productivity.One studies show that, in the process of making polychrome suspension type guiding direction board, adopts digitlization workflow and UV ink jet printing can cut down nearly 75% the amount of labour.
Then with the radiation-hardenable ink solidification, thereby form the goods that comprise the radiation curing image.Be used to realize that the crosslinked energy of radiation-hardenable printing ink can be photochemical radiation (for example wavelength is in the ultraviolet ray of spectrum or the radiation of visible region), accelerated particle (for example electron beam irradiation), heat radiation (for example heating or infrared radiation) etc.In certain embodiments, the preferred energy is photochemical radiation or accelerated particle, because this type of energy can carry out fabulous control to crosslinked initiation and speed.In addition, if use the heat cure technology, then need to adopt higher relatively temperature to cause the crosslinked of radiation-hardenable group, this moment, those components to relative higher temperature sensitivity may be degraded; Photochemical radiation and accelerated particle just can be cured under relatively low temperature, have therefore avoided the generation of this type of degraded situation.Suitable sources of actinic radiation comprises mercury lamp, xenon lamp, carbon arc lamp, tengsten lamp, laser instrument, electron beam energy, daylight etc.
In certain embodiments, preferred ultraviolet radiation is especially from the ultraviolet radiation of medium pressure mercury lamp.The printing ink that solidifies under ultraviolet radiation can have benefited from the existence of at least a light trigger.Yet, with regard to electronic beam curing, do not need light trigger.The type of used light trigger depends on colouring agent and the radiation wavelength of selecting for use in the ink composite.The light trigger of commercially available generated free radical includes, but is not limited to benzophenone, benzoin ether and acylphosphanes photoinitiator, for example can be from the light trigger of the commercially available commodity " Irgacure " and " Darocur " by name of Ciba Specialty Chemicals.Radiation-hardenable printing ink also can be self-crosslinking.
In some illustrative embodiments, can after goods solidify, protective layer (for example external coating, overlapping layer, overlay film, laminated thing, transparent coatings, varnish etc.) be applied on the counter-reflective products.Protective layer can be, maybe can comprise contact adhesive; and some exemplary contact adhesives are called " HIGH REFRACTIVE INDEX PRESSURE-SENSITIVE ADHESIVES " (contact adhesive of high index of refraction) and transfer present patent application assignee's U.S. Patent application No.11/875 in name, describe to some extent in 894.Protective layer can be applied as (for example) coating, contact adhesive, laminated thing or PUR.Preferred protective layer makes the retro-reflecting coefficient maximization with (1); (2) protection printing ink and base material; And (3) be attached on ultraviolet ink surface and the retrodirective reflection base material.Protective layer can provide other functions, for example anti-scribbling.Printing opacity, transparent or semitransparent protective layer are preferred in some embodiments.Exemplary protective layer comprises that (for example) contains the material of acrylic resin, carbamate, epoxy resin, polyvinyl chloride, polyester, and material partially fluorinated or that fluoridize fully.In at least some embodiments, printing opacity is applied to the transmissivity that the retroreflectiveness that helps on the cured printing ink to make on required observer's angle meets applied ink all the time with relative smooth protective layer.
In at least some preferred embodiments, the refractive index of printing ink and protective layer is in 10% scope each other, more preferably in 5% scope each other, most preferably in 2% scope each other.By making the refractive index coupling of printing ink and protective layer, can keep or improve the retroreflectiveness of sheet material.In an illustrative embodiments, the refractive index of ultraviolet curing ink is about 1.51 to 1.54.The refractive index of exemplary acrylate PSA is about 1.47.Protective layer can make the curing image on the sheet material have the retroreflectiveness that keeps or improve and/or can make the curing image on the sheet material have the durability that keeps or improve.A more than protective layer can be applied to and solidify on the image.
In some illustrative embodiments, second first type surface can be close to the pressure sensitive adhesive layer by the release liner protection.Release liner can be removed, and imaging substrate (for example sheet material or film) can be attached on the target surface such as direction board backing or base material (for example metal or nonmetal), car plate backing or base material, car plate, bulletin, automobile, truck, aircraft, building, awning, window, floor.
In some illustrative embodiments, radiation-hardenable printing ink is applied to the imaging goods that obtain behind the sheet material that is heated, its retroreflectiveness is equal to or greater than the sheet material part that does not apply printing ink.Because the heating temperature of counter-reflective products can influence the retroreflectiveness of imaging goods when applying printing ink, so the user can select the temperature of counter-reflective products when applying printing ink, so that the imaging goods obtain required retroreflectiveness.
Method of the present invention and goods can adopt any radiation-hardenable printing ink or ultraviolet curing ink, these printing ink comprise at least a radiation-hardenable polymer, oligomer, macromonomer, monomer or their mixture, and qualified ink adhesion and picture quality is provided.Therefore, can adopt multiple radiation-hardenable ink composite.The radiation-hardenable ink composite can be (but needing not to be) self-crosslinking.Selected printing ink can be applied on the whole surface of counter-reflective products, base material, film or sheet material or on their wherein a part of surface.The radiation-hardenable ink composite can comprise single radiation-hardenable monomer, oligomer, macromonomer or polymer, or the various mixtures of these components.With regard to the radiation-hardenable part, the radiation-hardenable composition can be simple function group, difunctional, trifunctional, four-functional group or other polyfunctional group components.The radiation-hardenable ink composite can comprise non-radiative curing composition, and precondition is that at least a composition is a radiation-hardenable.
The optimum viscosity characteristic of specific ink composition will depend on the required parameter that applies, and comprise the type that applies temperature and be used for ink composite is applied to the printing ink application system on counter-reflective products, base material, sheet material or the film.The exemplary printing ink that is preferred for some ink-jet applications in its viscosity under the print head temperature between about 3 centipoises and about 30 centipoises.
The exemplary ink composite that is preferred for some ink-jet applications has medium to lower surface tension properties before curing.Exemplary preferred formulation its surface tension under the print head temperature at about 20mN/m to the scope of about 50mN/m, more preferably at about 22mN/m extremely in the scope of about 40mN/m.Some exemplary preferred printing ink can comprise the liquid component in the surface that is diffused into counter-reflective products, base material, sheet material or film.Printing ink can also comprise at least a in the following material: high glass-transition temperature component, polyfunctional monomer, low surface tension component, gloss component and their mixture.Some preferred printing ink are substantially free of solvent.
Ink composite can comprise the additive of plurality of optional.This type of optional additive comprises one or more flow control agents, light trigger, colouring agent, slip agents, thixotropic agent, blowing agent, defoamer, flow or other rheology control agents, wax class, oils, polymerization forming agent, binding agent, antioxidant, light trigger stabilizing agent, polishing material, fungicide, bactericide, organic and/or inorganic filler particle, levelling agent, opacifier, antistatic additive, dispersant etc.In order to improve the durability of printing image graphics, particularly in the durability of being exposed to the sun in the outdoor environment of sunlight, multiple commercially available stablizing can be added in the ink composite alternatively with chemical substance, these chemical substances include, but is not limited to heat stabilizer, ultraviolet light stabilizers and free radical scavenger.
Some preferred ink composites are the same with base material at least pliable and tough." pliability " is meant such physical characteristic: under 25 ℃ be 50 microns base material imaging moiety fold when getting up with thickness, and no any visible crack on the printing ink.
When adopting ASTM 810 " standard method of test of retrodirective reflection sheet material retro-reflecting coefficient " test, some the exemplary ink composites ink composite of opaque (for example carbon black, titanium dioxide or organic black dyes) (comprise except) can be transparent.That is to say, be coated to these ink composites on the retrodirective reflection base material after, shine the lip-deep visible light of film and can see through retrodirective reflection sheet material component.This character makes goods be specially adapted to outdoor identification purposes, especially the traffic control tag system.In addition, the ink composite of drying and/or curing is not clamminess basically, and therefore printing image has character such as anti-dust accumulation.For the embodiment of the outdoor useful life longevity that has benefited from improving, ink composite can be preferably aliphatic, is substantially free of aromatic component.In some applications, the paint base composition of optimization polyurethane and/or acrylic compounds.
Be used for representational inkjet compositions of the present invention and comprise U.S. Patent No. 5,275,646,5,981,113 and 6,720,042, and the ink composite described in international patent application No.WO 97/31071 and the WO 99/29788.
Suitable material as base material is the retrodirective reflection material, includes, but is not limited to multiple film and sheet material, and it preferably is made of thermoplasticity or thermoset copolymer material.Method of the present invention has some special advantages for the base material of low-surface-energy." low-surface-energy " is meant that surface tension is lower than about 50 dynes per centimeter material of (also being equal to 50 milli Newton/meter).Some preferred polymer-type base materials are non-hole.Yet, the base material that also can use micropore, perforate and comprise water-absorption particle (for example silica and/or super absorbent polymer), prerequisite is these base materials behind contact water and undergoes no deterioration or layering when being exposed to extreme temperature.Other base materials that are suitable for comprise Woven fabric and supatex fabric, particularly those that are made of synthetic fibers (for example polyester, nylon and polyolefin).
As the polymeric material of base material (sheet material for example, what representative example film) included, but is not limited to individual layer and multi-ply construction contains acrylate film (for example poly-(methyl) methyl acrylate [PMMA]), film (the ethene for example that contains poly-(vinyl chloride), polymerization shaping ethene (polymeric materialized vinyl), strengthen ethene, ethylene/propene acids mixture), the film that contains poly-(PVF), the film of amido-containing acid ester, the film that contains melamine, the film that contains polyvinyl butyral resin, contain polyolefinic film, contain the film (for example PETG) of polyester and contain the film of Merlon.In addition, base material can comprise the copolymer of these polymeric materials.
Exemplary commercially available film comprises a large amount of films that are generally used for the label purposes, for example derives from the commodity " DG by name of 3M company
3", " Diamond Grade ", " High Intensity Prismatic " and " Engineer Grade " those.
Different according to what the polymeric material of base material and thickness were selected, base material (for example sheet material, film) can be rigidity or flexibility.Base material (for example sheet material, film, polymeric material) can be printing opacity, translucent or opaque.In addition, base material can be colourless, pure color or has multicolour pattern.About other information of the base material that is used in combination with method as herein described and label, can be referring to U.S. Patent No. 6,720,042.
At least some preferred label goods have outdoor useful life longevity." outdoor useful life longevity " is meant that goods keep the ability of color stable when standing extreme temperature, contact with moisture (little to dew, heavy or torrential rain) and being exposed to the ultraviolet radiation of sunshine.The different variations to some extent of environment that the threshold value of durability may expose because of goods.Yet the bottom line of threshold value is: goods immerse that keep after 24 hours in environment temperatures (25 ℃) water down or be exposed to approximately-40 ℃ can layering when (moist or dry) to the temperature of about 60 ℃ (140 ℉) or go bad.
With regard to the label that is used for traffic control, goods preferably have enough durability, make that goods can be weather-proof at least one year, more preferably are at least three years.Can measure the weatherability of goods according to ASTM D4956-99 " traffic control with retrodirective reflection sheet material standard criterion ", this standard criterion described some types retrodirective reflection sheet material in original state and behind outdoor accelerated weathering, and the lowest performance that need possess different according to purposes.During original state, the retro-reflecting coefficient that reflective substrate possesses should meet or exceed minimum retro-reflecting coefficient.For the white sheet material (" engineering level ") of I class, be 0.2 °, incidence angle during in viewing angle for-4 °, recording minimum retro-reflecting coefficient is 70cd/fc/ft
2, and for the white sheet material (" high strength ") of III class, be 0.2 °, incidence angle during for-4 ° in viewing angle, recording minimum retro-reflecting coefficient is 250cd/fc/ft
2In addition, preferably satisfy the minimum requirements of shrinkage, pliability, adhesive force, resistance to impact and glossiness.The retrodirective reflection sheet material is through outdoor accelerated weathering 12,24 or after 36 months, different according to its type and purposes, after the test period of appointment, should not demonstrate measurable crackle, peel off, cave in, foaming, edge perk or curl, 0.8 millimeter contraction or expansion should not appear surpassing yet.In addition, Weathered counter-reflective products preferably has retro-reflecting coefficient and the color fastness that reaches minimum requirements at least.For example, be used for I class " engineering level " retrodirective reflection sheet material that persistent identification uses after through 24 months outdoor weathering, its retro-reflecting coefficient need remain at least 50% level of initial minimum retro-reflecting coefficient; And being used for III class high intensity type retrodirective reflection sheet material that persistent identification uses after through 36 months outdoor weathering, its retro-reflecting coefficient need remain at least 80% level of initial minimum retro-reflecting coefficient, just can meet the demands.Owing to have the radiation curable inkjet image on the retrodirective reflection base material, therefore, initial retro-reflecting coefficient value and the retro-reflecting coefficient value after outdoor weathering can descend about 50% usually.
The imaging goods are suitable for use as other goods of rolling mark, various flag, banner and comprising other traffic alarms sign (for example roll sheet material, taper hold sheet material, cylindricality hold sheet material, cylindrical shape holds sheet material, licence plate sheet material, roadblock sheet material and label sheet material); The marking of cars and vehicle partition mark; Pavement marker band and sheet material; And retrodirective reflection band.This based article also can be used for multiple retrodirective reflection safety device, comprises (for example) clothing item, construction operation vest, life vest, raincoat, logo, armband, promotional item, luggage, briefcase, school bag, knapsack, life raft, walking stick, umbrella, Animal neck ring, truck mark, trailer coupler and curtain.The retro-reflecting coefficient on the observation surface of each this based article will depend on the required character of finished product.
In film, sheet material or imaging goods may be exposed to embodiment in the moisture, available diaphragm seal encapsulated the solid angle reflective elements.In that cube comer sheetings is used as in the example of retrodirective reflection layer, can use back sheet, purpose is to make laminated thing or goods become opaque and improves its resistance to marring and/or the adhesion trend of elimination diaphragm seal.In U.S. Patent No. 5,138, have in 488,5,387,458,5,450,235,5,605,761,5,614,286 and 5,691,846 disclosed based on the illustrative example of the retrodirective reflection sheet material of solid angle.The illustrative example of pearl retrodirective reflection sheet material is in U.S. Patent No. 4,025, has in 159,4,983,436,5,064,272,5,066,098,5,069,964 and 5,262,225 disclosed.
Objects and advantages of the present invention can further illustrate by following example, but should not to be interpreted as undeservedly be limitation of the present invention for the concrete material of being narrated in these examples and its use amount and other conditions and details.Except as otherwise noted, all herein umbers, percentage and ratio are all by weight.All following examples comprise that the commodity that use 3M company to sell are called the ink-jet printer of " 3M Print 2500 ultraviolet printers " (3M Print 2500 UV Printer), and its assembling situation is as described below.Yet, one skilled in the art will appreciate that and can use the printer of producing by other printer manufacturer (comprising (for example) Durst).
Heating component is arranged on the printer header board.Heating component comprises 12 inches * 24 inches, and (30.48cm * 60.96cm), power density are 2.4 watts/square inch hot compress pad, this hot compress pad is (by BH Thermal Corporation (Ohio, United States) produce and market, its commodity are called " BriskHeat SRL 1224 silicon rubber heating blankets " (BriskHeat SRL 1224 Silicone Rubber Heating Blanket)) be arranged between two blocks of aluminium sheets, the thickness of every block of aluminium sheet is about 1/8 inch (0.3175cm).Use the metal intermediate plate that hot compress pad and aluminium sheet are combined.By McMaster-Carr (Ohio, United States) single-phase transformer (input: 120V of the commodity of produce and market " desk-top variable voltage output transformer " (B ench Top Variable Voltage Output Transformer) by name, output: 0 to 120V, electric current: 12 amperes) links to each other with hot compress pad, be used to adjust voltage, thereby adjust the temperature of hot compress pad.
Below three kinds of printing ink be arranged on position in its each comfortable printer (different be, red ink is arranged on pinkish red position): red ink, (3M Piezo Ink Jet Ink Series 8812 UV Red) are commercially available from 3M company with trade name " 3M piezoelectric ink jet ink series 8812 ultraviolets are red "; Yellow ink, (3MPiezo Ink Jet Ink Series 8814 UV Yellow) are commercially available from 3M company with trade name " 3M piezoelectric ink jet ink series 8814 ultraviolet Huangs "; And cyan ink, (3M Piezo Ink Jet Ink Series 8816 UV Cyan) are commercially available from 3M company with trade name " 3M piezoelectric ink jet ink series 8816 ultraviolet green grass or young crops ".Use the filling content shown in the Table I, printer can be printed following four kinds of colors: traffic is red, traffic is yellow, traffic is blue and traffic is orange.
Table I. fill content
| The traffic look | Cyan | Red | Yellow |
| Red | Do not have | 70M | Do not have |
| Blue | 100C | Do not have | Do not have |
| Orange | Do not have | 18M | 80Y |
| Yellow | Do not have | 4M | 100Y |
Use Adobe Illustrator
The software creation test pattern.Test pattern comprises 44 * 9 inches, and (rectangle of 10.2cm * 22.86cm), these rectangles print to adjacent one another are, at interval about 1/2 inch (1.27cm).Use in following four kinds of colors each to print one of them rectangle: traffic is red, traffic is yellow, traffic is blue and traffic is orange.RIP is provided with as follows: the use test chart-pattern, and wherein the spot definition of all colours is 1, resolution ratio is 726 * 600 point/inches (dpi).The software that employing is made by 3M company and sold with trade name " 3M graphic making RIP " (3M Graphic Maker RIP) becomes printable file with the test pattern file conversion.
Example 1
To record and be of a size of about 12 * 20 inches (a slice prism-shaped Rectroreflective sheet of 30.5cm * 50.8cm) is (by 3M company (St.Paul, Minnesota) produce and market, and commodity " 3M Diamond Grade by name
TM") place on the superiors' aluminium sheet of above-mentioned printer, and make it to warm.After the prism-shaped sheet material reached required initial temperature, (adopt two-pass XY printing model, resolution ratio was set to 726 * 600dpi) above-mentioned test pattern is printed on the prism-shaped sheet material to use above-mentioned printer.Two uviol lamps in the printer are set to height, and it is moved under leading " L " (gloss) curing pattern.Next-door neighbour print image before and afterwards, use the handheld digital thermometer (to be equipped with thermocouple, by Omega Engineering Inc. (Connecticut, United States) makes, and sell with trade name " HH81 ") measure the temperature of prism-shaped sheet material, last temperature is appointed as " initial temperature " in Table II, back one temperature is appointed as " end temp " in Table II.Print head is printed on test pattern will spend about 2 minutes on the prism-shaped sheet material.
Determine that printing ink adheres to whether well on the prism-shaped sheet material, need according to the operation described in the ASTM D-3359-95 " measuring the standard method of test of tack by tape test ", use 1 inch (2.54cm) wide adhesive tape (make and sell by 3M company, and commodity are called " 3M 232 masking tapes " (3M 232 Masking Tape)) to measure bound percentage.Following Table II illustrates and is applied to the bound percentage result that every kind of color on the prism-shaped sheet material records at various temperatures.
Table II. the bound percentage result who records by tape test at various temperatures
Table II shows the rising of sheet temperature when applying printing ink, can be observed the adhesive force of printing ink on sheet material and strengthens.Especially, when the prism-shaped sheet material is heated to 97 ℉ (36 ℃) when above, can be observed adhesive force and strengthen.
Example 2
Can adopt another kind of mode to determine that printing ink adheres to whether well on the prism-shaped sheet material, this mode relates to the peeling force of test ink on the prism-shaped sheet material.Can adopt extension test equipment (equipment of for example making and selling with trade name " MTS-1122 ") to measure peeling force by MTS Systems Corporation (Minnesota, United States).According to the operation described in the ASTM D-6862 " anti-90 standard method of test peeled off of degree of adhesive ", use 90 degree to peel off test fixture and 1.0 inches (2.54cm) wide adhesive tapes of commodity " 3M 390 fabricbase adhesive tapes " (3M 390Cloth Duct Tape) by name of being made by 3M company are tested.Use the force cell of 0 to 200 pound (0 to 90.7kg), its draw rate is 16,20 and 30 inch per minute clocks (being respectively 40.64,50.8 and 76.2 cm per minute).The yellow test pattern of the traffic of printing in the example 1 is tested.Use the 5052H38 rigidity aluminium adherend of 0.025 inch (0.05cm) to prepare test sample, and be placed under the relative humidity of 70 ℉ (21 ℃) and 70% adaptation 12 to 24 hours.The Table III of below shows the average peeling force that at least 0.25 inch (0.63cm) back of the yellow tractive of traffic is write down.
Table III. the test result of anti-degree of peeling off under all temps
Table III shows the rising of sheet temperature when applying printing ink, can be observed the adhesive force of printing ink on sheet material and strengthens.Especially, when the prism-shaped sheet material is heated to 97 ℉ (36 ℃) when above, can be observed adhesive force and strengthen.
Example 3
This example provides anti-degree of the peeling off result of the red label of traffic of preparation in the example 1.The Table IV of below shows red anti-degree of the peeling off test result of traffic, and wherein peeling force is with ft lbf/inch expression.
Table IV. the test result of anti-degree of peeling off under all temps
Table IV shows the rising of sheet temperature when applying printing ink, can be observed the adhesive force of printing ink on sheet material and strengthens.Especially, when the prism-shaped sheet material is heated to 97 ℉ when above, can be observed adhesive force and strengthen.
The result that anti-degree of peeling off test obtains indicates " printing ink adhesion failure " (100% printing ink is transferred on the adhesive tape from base material), " adhesion failure " (wherein 100% printing ink is stayed on the base material) and " mix and lost efficacy " (wherein the part of printing ink is transferred on the adhesive tape, and another part is stayed on the base material).The inventor of present patent application finds, can be observed adhesion failure usually when temperature is higher than 97 ℉, and can be observed the printing ink adhesion failure usually when temperature is lower than 97 ℉.This has supported the rising of sheet temperature when applying printing ink, observes the discovery that the adhesive force of printing ink on sheet material strengthens.
Example 4
The inventor of present patent application has also tested the retroreflectiveness of retrodirective reflection sheet material imaging moiety.Use 16 inches (40.64cm) wide laminator that the acrylic compounds overlapping layer (is made by 3M company, and commercially available with trade name " TSS 1170NP ") be laminated on the printing retrodirective reflection sheet material of example 1, this laminator is that the steel heating tank (being heated to 125 ℉ (51.67 ℃)) and the rubber nip rolls of 9 inches (22.86cm) of 9 inches (22.86cm) formed by diameter.Laminator moves under the setting of the pressure of about 25 to 30 pounds/square inch (170 to 207 kPas (KPa)), and this pressure is applied on the nip rolls, and wherein this pressure is to be that the cylinder of 6 inches (15.24cm) produces by diameter.The linear velocity scope of width of cloth material from about 1.7 to about 2.0 feet per minute clocks (from about 0.86 to about 1.01cm/s).
According to ASTM E-810 " standard method of test of retro-reflecting coefficient ", use the retroreflectiveness of the laminated printing retrodirective reflection sheet material of the RM2 spectrometer measurement made according to ASTM E-810 and overlapping layer.The Table V of below shows each retro-reflecting coefficient test result of four kinds of colors in the test pattern to Table I X, these tests are carried out under 72 ℉, 97 ℉, 110 ℉, 125 ℉ and 145 ℉ (being respectively 22.2 ℃, 36.1 ℃, 43.3 ℃, 51.7 ℃ and 62.8 ℃) respectively.Table X is illustrated in the average retro-reflecting coefficient of every kind of color under every kind of temperature, and its unit is candela/lux square metre (cd/lux.m
2).To Table X, the unit of retro-reflecting coefficient is candela/lux square metre (cd/lux.m in Table V
2).In addition, only measure retro-reflecting coefficient down in one group of angle (5.0 ° incidence angle, 0.33 ° viewing angle, 0 ° the angle of orientation and 0 ° demonstration angle (spot definition is 1 inch)).
Retro-reflecting coefficient test result under the Table V .72 ℉
| 35 | 46.2 | 44 | 209 | 221 | 122 | 116 | 326 | 312 |
| 36 | 45.9 | 42.3 | 236 | 216 | 120 | 115 | 306 | 299 |
| 37 | 48.4 | 43.9 | 230 | 224 | 124 | 119 | 316 | 297 |
| 38 | 46.7 | 45.8 | 225 | 218 | 132 | 122 | 332 | 254 |
| 39 | 43.7 | 47.1 | 241 | 230 | 122 | 127 | 318 | 290 |
| 40 | 45 | 42.2 | 224 | 216 | 130 | 117 | 305 | 278 |
| 41 | 47.5 | 39.9 | 217 | 230 | 124 | 119 | 295 | 275 |
| 42 | 50.6 | 45.1 | 237 | 208 | 130 | 124 | 282 | 282 |
| 43 | 46.5 | 42.1 | 244 | 231 | 132 | 113 | 343 | 317 |
| 44 | 46.7 | 41.2 | 234 | 231 | 125 | 124 | 299 | 310 |
Retro-reflecting coefficient test result under the Table VI .97 ℉
Retro-reflecting coefficient test result under the Table VII .110 ℉
Retro-reflecting coefficient test result under the Table VIII .125 ℉
Table I is the retro-reflecting coefficient test result under the ℉ X.145
Table X. Table V to the data of Table I X gather
Table V to Table X shows the rising of sheet temperature when applying printing ink of the retroreflectiveness that comprises the sheet material part of solidifying image and increases.Especially, for blue, orange and yellow, their average retro-reflecting coefficient does not raise with temperature and increases when temperature reaches 145 ℉; And when temperature rises to 145 ℉, its average retro-reflecting coefficient fall back to room temperature under the average retro-reflecting coefficient degree very nearly the same of printed sheets.For redness, sheet material is when printing for 107 °, and its retro-reflecting coefficient reduces.In addition, when temperature is in the scope of 97 ℉ to 125 ℉, according to its retro-reflecting coefficient increase 10% to 21% of difference of color.The increase of these retroreflectiveness is unexpected beneficial effects.
Example 5
Can repeat the operating process of example 1, but two uviol lamps in the printer are moved under follow-up " T " (tarnish) curing pattern.Table X I shows in the bound percentage test result that is applied to every kind of color on the prism-shaped sheet material at each temperature.
Table X I. adheres to the result by what tape test recorded at various temperatures
Table X I shows the rising of sheet temperature when applying printing ink, can be observed the adhesive force of printing ink on sheet material and strengthens.Especially, when the prism-shaped sheet material being heated to 102 ℉ (38.9 ℃) when above, can be observed adhesive force and strengthen.
One skilled in the art will appreciate that and under the prerequisite that does not break away from basic principle of the present invention, to make multiple change the details of the foregoing description and embodiment.Therefore, the scope of present patent application should only be determined by following claims.
Claims (19)
1. method that forms label comprises:
At least a portion to the retrodirective reflection sheet material heats;
Ultraviolet curing ink is applied on the described heated portion of described retrodirective reflection sheet material; And
Described ultraviolet curing ink is solidified on described retrodirective reflection sheet material.
2. method according to claim 1 also comprises:
Protective layer is applied on the retrodirective reflection sheet material of described curing.
3. method according to claim 2, the refractive index of wherein said protective layer and the refractive index of described ultraviolet curing ink differ less than 10%.
4. method according to claim 1 also comprises:
The retrodirective reflection sheet material of described curing is attached on the base material.
5. method according to claim 1, wherein said ultraviolet curing ink applies by ink-jet printer.
6. method according to claim 1 wherein is heated to described retrodirective reflection sheet material the temperature of at least 97 ℉.
7. method according to claim 1, wherein said ultraviolet curing ink are self-crosslinking.
8. method according to claim 1, wherein said retrodirective reflection sheet material is the prism-shaped sheet material.
9. label, its method according to claim 1 forms.
10. one kind is formed into the method that looks like goods, comprising:
At least a portion to the retrodirective reflection base material heats;
Radiation-hardenable printing ink is applied to the described heated portion of described retrodirective reflection base material; And
Make described ink solidification.
11. method according to claim 10 wherein is heated to described retrodirective reflection base material the temperature of at least 97 ℉.
12. method according to claim 10 wherein is applied to described radiation-hardenable printing ink and relates on the described retrodirective reflection base material described printing ink ink jet printing to described base material.
13. method according to claim 10 also comprises:
Protective layer is applied on the base material of described curing.
14. method according to claim 13, the refractive index of the refractive index of wherein said protective layer and described radiation-hardenable printing ink differs less than 10%.
15. method according to claim 10 also comprises:
Described imaging goods are attached on the base material.
16. a label, its method according to claim 10 forms.
17. method according to claim 10, wherein by described base material being heated and applying the described imaging goods that described radiation-hardenable printing ink forms, its retro-reflecting coefficient is equal to or greater than the retro-reflecting coefficient of the base material that heats before applying described radiation-hardenable printing ink.
18. a method that is formed into the picture goods comprises:
Radiation-hardenable printing ink is applied on the retrodirective reflection base material that temperature is at least 97 ℉; With
Make described ink solidification.
19. a label, its method according to claim 18 forms.
Applications Claiming Priority (3)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| US12/121,170 | 2008-05-15 | ||
| US12/121,170 US20090286049A1 (en) | 2008-05-15 | 2008-05-15 | Methods of applying uv-curable inks to retroreflective sheeting |
| PCT/US2009/041791 WO2009140047A1 (en) | 2008-05-15 | 2009-04-27 | Methods of applying uv-curable inks to retroreflective sheeting |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CN102026818A true CN102026818A (en) | 2011-04-20 |
Family
ID=40810516
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CN2009801169230A Pending CN102026818A (en) | 2008-05-15 | 2009-04-27 | Methods of applying uv-curable inks to retroreflective sheeting |
Country Status (6)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| US (1) | US20090286049A1 (en) |
| EP (1) | EP2303584A1 (en) |
| JP (1) | JP2011526549A (en) |
| CN (1) | CN102026818A (en) |
| BR (1) | BRPI0908689A2 (en) |
| WO (1) | WO2009140047A1 (en) |
Cited By (3)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CN104012171A (en) * | 2011-10-26 | 2014-08-27 | 矢崎总业株式会社 | Ultraviolet ray radiation apparatus and method for curing photo-curable composition |
| CN111532048A (en) * | 2020-05-15 | 2020-08-14 | 广东平安消防实业有限公司 | Method for manufacturing fluorescent signboard |
| CN114690296A (en) * | 2020-12-29 | 2022-07-01 | 恩希爱（杭州）薄膜有限公司 | Retroreflective sheet and preparation method thereof |
Families Citing this family (9)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US9023591B2 (en) * | 2010-09-30 | 2015-05-05 | Chemence, Inc. | Inkjet printable flexography substrate and method of using |
| BR112013012974A2 (en) * | 2010-11-30 | 2016-09-13 | 3M Innovative Properties Co | pavement demarcation composition |
| JP2015121566A (en) * | 2012-03-26 | 2015-07-02 | 日本カーバイド工業株式会社 | Manufacturing method for indicator-equipped reflective sheets |
| US9597867B2 (en) | 2013-07-25 | 2017-03-21 | Shurtape Technologies, Llc | Digital printed duct tape |
| US10072190B2 (en) | 2013-07-25 | 2018-09-11 | Shurtape Technologies, Llc | Digital printed duct tape |
| US10603881B2 (en) | 2013-07-25 | 2020-03-31 | Shurtape Technologies, Llc | Digital printed duct tape |
| US9682886B1 (en) | 2014-06-17 | 2017-06-20 | Amazon Technologies, Inc. | Ink coating application system and method |
| WO2018229687A1 (en) * | 2017-06-13 | 2018-12-20 | 3M Innovative Properties Company | Amino-functional silsesquioxane copolymer coatings |
| ES2804923B2 (en) * | 2019-08-09 | 2021-06-07 | Soler Juan Ferri | SYSTEM AND METHOD OF DECORATION OF SUITCASES AND LUGGAGE ITEMS |
Family Cites Families (23)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US4025159A (en) * | 1976-02-17 | 1977-05-24 | Minnesota Mining And Manufacturing Company | Cellular retroreflective sheeting |
| US5064272A (en) * | 1985-11-18 | 1991-11-12 | Minnesota Mining And Manufacturing Company | Encapsulated-lens retroreflective sheeting and method of making |
| US4983436A (en) * | 1987-04-15 | 1991-01-08 | Minnesota Mining And Manufacturing Company | Retroreflective sheeting with backing film |
| US4801473A (en) * | 1987-05-14 | 1989-01-31 | Spectra, Inc. | Method for preparing a hot melt ink transparency |
| US5066098A (en) * | 1987-05-15 | 1991-11-19 | Minnesota Mining And Manufacturing Company | Cellular encapsulated-lens high whiteness retroreflective sheeting with flexible cover sheet |
| US5262225A (en) * | 1988-09-02 | 1993-11-16 | Minnesota Mining And Manufacturing Company | Embossable sign construction |
| US5069964A (en) * | 1989-05-23 | 1991-12-03 | Minnesota Mining And Manufacturing Company | Flexible, substrate-insular retroreflective sheeting |
| US5275646A (en) * | 1990-06-27 | 1994-01-04 | Domino Printing Sciences Plc | Ink composition |
| US5138488A (en) * | 1990-09-10 | 1992-08-11 | Minnesota Mining And Manufacturing Company | Retroreflective material with improved angularity |
| ZA918849B (en) * | 1990-12-06 | 1992-08-26 | Minnesota Mining & Mfg | Articles exhibiting durable fluorescence |
| US5450235A (en) * | 1993-10-20 | 1995-09-12 | Minnesota Mining And Manufacturing Company | Flexible cube-corner retroreflective sheeting |
| US5614286A (en) * | 1993-10-20 | 1997-03-25 | Minnesota Mining And Manufacturing Company | Conformable cube corner retroreflective sheeting |
| US5691846A (en) * | 1993-10-20 | 1997-11-25 | Minnesota Mining And Manufacturing Company | Ultra-flexible retroreflective cube corner composite sheetings and methods of manufacture |
| JP3447744B2 (en) * | 1994-11-28 | 2003-09-16 | ミネソタ マイニング アンド マニュファクチャリング カンパニー | Products with persistent coloring and / or fluorescent properties |
| US5981113A (en) * | 1996-12-17 | 1999-11-09 | 3M Innovative Properties Company | Curable ink composition and imaged retroreflective article therefrom |
| US6554414B2 (en) * | 2001-01-02 | 2003-04-29 | 3M Innovative Properties Company | Rotatable drum inkjet printing apparatus for radiation curable ink |
| US6720042B2 (en) * | 2001-04-18 | 2004-04-13 | 3M Innovative Properties Company | Primed substrates comprising radiation cured ink jetted images |
| US20030041962A1 (en) | 2001-09-05 | 2003-03-06 | John R. Johnson | Digitally printed products and process |
| JP2004306589A (en) * | 2003-03-25 | 2004-11-04 | Konica Minolta Holdings Inc | Image printing device and image printing method |
| JP2004319927A (en) * | 2003-04-21 | 2004-11-11 | Shinko Electric Ind Co Ltd | Patterning device and patterning method of film |
| JP2005014363A (en) * | 2003-06-25 | 2005-01-20 | Konica Minolta Medical & Graphic Inc | Inkjet recording device |
| US20060021537A1 (en) * | 2004-07-29 | 2006-02-02 | Kazuhiko Ohtsu | Curing method of cure type liquid composition and inkjet recording apparatus |
| WO2006061981A1 (en) * | 2004-12-09 | 2006-06-15 | Konica Minolta Medical & Graphic, Inc. | Image forming method and inkjet recording device using photo-curing ink, and ink set, inkjet recording method and inkjet recording device using photo-curing ink |
-
2008
- 2008-05-15 US US12/121,170 patent/US20090286049A1/en not_active Abandoned
-
2009
- 2009-04-27 EP EP09747133A patent/EP2303584A1/en not_active Withdrawn
- 2009-04-27 WO PCT/US2009/041791 patent/WO2009140047A1/en active Application Filing
- 2009-04-27 JP JP2011509537A patent/JP2011526549A/en not_active Withdrawn
- 2009-04-27 CN CN2009801169230A patent/CN102026818A/en active Pending
- 2009-04-27 BR BRPI0908689-7A patent/BRPI0908689A2/en not_active IP Right Cessation
Cited By (4)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CN104012171A (en) * | 2011-10-26 | 2014-08-27 | 矢崎总业株式会社 | Ultraviolet ray radiation apparatus and method for curing photo-curable composition |
| CN111532048A (en) * | 2020-05-15 | 2020-08-14 | 广东平安消防实业有限公司 | Method for manufacturing fluorescent signboard |
| CN114690296A (en) * | 2020-12-29 | 2022-07-01 | 恩希爱（杭州）薄膜有限公司 | Retroreflective sheet and preparation method thereof |
| CN114690296B (en) * | 2020-12-29 | 2024-04-05 | 恩希爱（杭州）薄膜有限公司 | Retroreflective sheet and preparation method thereof |
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| WO2009140047A1 (en) | 2009-11-19 |
| EP2303584A1 (en) | 2011-04-06 |
| US20090286049A1 (en) | 2009-11-19 |
| BRPI0908689A2 (en) | 2015-07-21 |
| JP2011526549A (en) | 2011-10-13 |
Similar Documents
| Publication | Publication Date | Title |
|---|---|---|
| CN102026818A (en) | Methods of applying uv-curable inks to retroreflective sheeting | |
| US6200666B1 (en) | Thermal transfer compositions, articles, and graphic articles made with same | |
| JP3560981B2 (en) | Retroreflective labeled product, kit for producing the product, and method for producing labeled product | |
| CN101291816B (en) | Set of curable liquids and methods for inkjet printing | |
| CN105934484B (en) | Building materials printing inkjet ink composition, building materials printing ink-jet ink set, ink jet recording method and decorative building material | |
| US6712532B2 (en) | Method of printing film and articles | |
| CN1307439C (en) | Retroreflective article comprising water-borne acrylic topcoats | |
| CN101003043A (en) | Method for producing versatile plastic products especially with a abrasion-resistant surface | |
| DE69930108T2 (en) | ADHESIVITY INCREASING SURFACES FOR MARKING MATERIALS | |
| CN104334364B (en) | Texture heat transfer label | |
| AU705293B2 (en) | Radiation-cross-linkable thermoplastic composition and its use in making graphic articles | |
| CN107636099A (en) | Adhesive film, layered product and decorated profile body | |
| US20180345715A1 (en) | Variable gloss heat transfer labels | |
| MXPA97005941A (en) | Retrorreflectors signaling items, equipment to produce themselves and methods for manufacturing signaling items | |
| EP1418559A1 (en) | Adhesion-enhancing surfaces for marking materials |
Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| C06 | Publication | ||
| PB01 | Publication | ||
| C10 | Entry into substantive examination | ||
| SE01 | Entry into force of request for substantive examination | ||
| C02 | Deemed withdrawal of patent application after publication (patent law 2001) | ||
| WD01 | Invention patent application deemed withdrawn after publication |
Application publication date: 20110420 |